Stamatis Spanoudakis

Stamatis Spanoudakis (Greek: Σταμάτης Σπανουδάκης; born 11 December 1948 in Athens, Greece) is a modern Greek classical composer. In his early career, he studied classical guitar. He shifted to rock music, but then continued classical studies at the Würzburg State Conservatory (now the Hochschule für Musik) with Bertold Hummel and later in Athens with Konstantinos Kydoniatis. Later, he studied Byzantine music. He has worked with various Greek singers, composing the music and writing the lyrics for a large number of hit songs (I akti, Pame gi’alles polities, Lathos epohi, Simera, Efiges noris, Zoi klemmeni, Kalimera ti kanis). With his religious works, he has provided a very different perspective of contemporary Byzantine music (Kyrie ton Dynameon, Efta Paraklisis, Imera Triti, Earini Ora). He has also composed numerous soundtracks (Colours of Iris, Angel, Sudden Love, Stone Years, All in a road, Brides). Since 1994, he has exclusively composed instrumental music, such as music that embraces Greece's history and religion (Alexandros, John's Tear, Marble King, For Smyrni, A Piece of My Soul, Moments Gone, Alexandros II, Rejoice my sea).

Biography

Stamatis Spanoudakis hails from an esteemed Greek family in Athens. His early fascination with music led him to pursue classical studies, specializing in guitar and theory. In the 1960s and 1970s, he immersed himself in the rock and pop scene, playing bass guitar and keyboards in various bands across Athens, Paris, and London. During this time, he also recorded his first albums.

Returning to his classical roots, Spanoudakis resumed his composition studies under the guidance of Professor Bertold Hummel in Würzburg and Professor Konstantinos Kydoniatis in Athens. A subsequent exploration of Byzantine music ignited his passion for Greek songwriting and instrumental compositions.

Today, Spanoudakis strives to seamlessly integrate his diverse musical influences—rock, classical, and Byzantine—into his work. He has penned numerous hit songs for renowned Greek musicians and composed scores for successful films, theater productions, and television programs in Greece, Germany, and Italy. With a discography exceeding sixty albums, his contributions to the music industry are extensive.

Since 1995, Spanoudakis has focused on instrumental music inspired by Greek historical and religious themes, garnering significant popularity in Greece. He currently resides in a suburb of Athens with his wife, Dori, and their four dogs. In his personal studio, Spanoudakis records, composes, arranges, produces, performs, and engineers his musical endeavors.

Discography

Album/CD title Published by Year Beautiful Lies

Songs with Stamatis Spanoudakis Philips 1971 Looking Back

Songs with Stamatis Spanoudakis Seagull 1974 Promitheus

Original soundtrack from the film by Kostas Feris Seagull 1974 Colours of iris

Original soundtrack from the film by Nikos Panayiotopoulos Seagull 1975 To the first musician

A religious record with Stamatis and a vocal group of friends Seagull 1977 Let's listen together

Stories for children. Texts by Maria Goumenopoulou. Nαrrαted by Kostas Giannikos Seagull 1977 Nestor's company

Children's songs, with Nestor, Dori, Eva and Stamatis Seagull 1977 Nestor's dream

Children's songs, with Nestor, Dori and Stamatis Seagull 1978 Maran atha Stamatis's first instrumental record Seagull 1978 Songs of love

Songs with Dimitris Tamposis and friends Seagull 1979 The garden with the statues Music from the TV series of Pantelis Voulgaris ΕΜΙ 1980 The story teller Music from the TV series of Nikos Pilavios Seagull 1980 The story teller ΙΙ Music from the TV series of Nikos Pilavios Seagull 1981 Lord of the powers

A religious record with Giannis Koutras and Eleni Vitali Lyra 1981 Angel

Original soundtrack from the film by Giorgos Katakouzinos Lyra 1981 Dies Irae

A religious record with Michalis Dimitriades and Electra Lyra 1982 Sudden love

Original soundtrack from the film by Giorgos Tsemperopoulos MINOS EMI 1983 Something is happening here

The first collaboration of Stamatis with Vassilis Saleas. With Giannis Ekmektsoglou on electric guitar and Chiko on drums. . MINOS EMI 1984 Seven prayers

A religious record with Eleni Vitali and children's choir MINOS EMI 1985 Senza tempo

Songs with Demi Roussos Warner Music 1985 Stone years

Original soundtrack from the film by Pantelis Voulgaris Lyra 1985 Contrabando

Songs with Eleutheria Arvanitaki. This was his first whole album, for a singer Lyra 1987 Absences

Original soundtrack from the film by Giorgos Katakouzinos Lyra 1987 On the way

Songs with Stamatis Spanoudakis Lyra 1987 And we came into the years

Songs with Eleni Vitali Columbia/ Sony Music 1988 Two steps from the sand

Songs with Alkistis Protopsalti Polygram 1989 Tanirama

Songs with Eleutheria Arvanitaki Polygram 1989 Ping Pong

A rock record, with electric and acoustic guitars, synths and drums. Polygram 1989 Striker Number 9

Original soundtrack from the film by Pantelis Voulgaris Striker no 9 CBS 1989 Third Day

A religious record with Manolis Mitsias and Vassilis Saleas CBS 1990 The dilemma

Songs with Petros Gaitanos Polygram 1990 Bye bye

Original soundtrack from the film by Giorgos Tsemperopoulos Columbia/ Sony Music 1991 I'm fine, thank you

Songs with Manolis Mitsias Sony Music 1991 Thalassa

. Sony Music 1992 Touch

Songs with Giannis Parios Minos EMI 1992 Where do you go when you sleep

Songs with Dori Spanoudakis MINOS EMI 1992 Iris / Promitheus / Maran atha

3 of the earlier instrumental and soundtracks, together in one record Stam Studio 1994 With words

A compilation of hit songs Stam Studio 1994 Alexandros (The myth of the east, the dream of the west)

This album tells the tale of Alexander the Great Stam Studio 1994 Moments gone

. Stam Studio 1995 Holy Hour

An album filled with melodies of the Greek orthodox religious hymns as well as originals by the artist. With Vassilis Saleas and Lefteris Zervas Stam Studio 1995 John's Tear

Music for the revelation of St. John Stam Studio 1996 Moments gone II

Contemporary musical arrangements Stam Studio 1996 The Marble King

A musical impression of Constantine Palaiologos, the last martyr Emperor of Constantinople. A tribute to Agia Sofia and the fall of his beloved city in 1453. Stam Studio 1998 All In A Journey

Original soundtrack of the film by Pantelis Voulgaris. It includes the saxophone and Greek lyra, accompanied by piano and contrabass. Stam Studio 1998 Facing the audience A live performance of the best of Spanoudakis's works, performed by a string orchestra, a choir and an elite of soloists of traditional Greek instruments Stam Studio 1998 Nineteenhundredandninetynine A musical journey honoring the year before the millennium Stam Studio 1999 Before the exhibition A compilation of Stamatis's music made for artist's Vasiliki exhibition in Paris Stam Studio 2000 Moments gone III . Stam Studio 2000 For Smyrni The artist's musical perception of events that took place in Smyrni in the early twentieth century Stam Studio 2001 The Essential Collection The absolute "Best of" Stamatis Spanoudakis's works. Digitally remastered all on a double CD album. Stam Studio 2002 Piece of my soul A combination of children's voices and mixed teenage choir with Spyros Lambrou choir Stam Studio 2003 Music for films A compilation of film themes Stam Studio 2004 Brides

Original soundtrack of the film "Brides". Directed by Pantelis Voulgaris and produced by Martin Scorsese. Includes traditional instruments and Byzantine voices. Stam Studio 2004 Live at the Royal Albert Hall Some of the best pieces of Stamatis Spanoudakis, performed live at the Royal Albert Hall by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra and the London Symphony Choir. Stam Studio 2006 Alexandros II (Paths you never walked)

Performed by ERT Symphony Orchestra and Choir and Stamatis's band Lyra 2009 Live in China Live recording in Beijing. Performed live by ERT Symphony Orchestra and Choir and Stamatis's band. Stam Studio 2009 Je veux toujours être avec toi

Various tracks with Dori Spanoudakis, in French Stam Studio 2011 Rejoice my sea

A blend of melodies children's voices, classical and ambient orchestrations, guitars, pianos and violins. Stam Studio 2013 Bathed in the sun

. Stam Studio 2016